In 2016, Diana Edelman founded Vegans, Baby (vegansbaby.com), a website that features profiles of local restaurants dedicated to, or simply supportive of, vegan, vegetarian and other plant-based diets. She also hosts vegan food tours, promotes cruelty-free beauty and fashion choices, and works with local chefs and restaurants to become more vegan-friendly and participate in special dining events throughout the year, including the monthlong Veganuary campaign.

The former public relations executive and travel blogger is also a prominent writer on vegan and animal rights issues who regularly speaks on those topics at conferences around the world. And she recently co-founded a company called Pure World Distribution, which distributes vegan food products to local restaurants and retailers.

Over breakfast at VegeNation, she spoke about the journey that brought her here.

Review-Journal: When did the treatment of animals become an important part of your personal and professional life?

Edelman: For my birthday, my dad said, “I’ve got (frequent flyer) miles. Where do you want to go?” I had just read “Water for Elephants” and I said, “I want to hang out with elephants.” So I started asking people where a good place to go to hang out with elephants was, and everybody said Thailand and Elephant Nature Park (in Chiang Mai). So I booked a volunteer trip there.

When I was on the bus on the way there, I asked, “Do we get to ride elephants?” And the guy got really quiet and looked at me and said, “No, you don’t. These are rescued elephants.”

I was sad for a half a second, and then we went to the park and saw these elephants who had been abused. Their backs were broken. And you just can’t imagine that this huge animal has been through this abuse because of us. (One) day there was an elephant dying, and we had to go make this elephant more comfortable. And I said, “I have a platform where I can make a difference. I’m going to go write about it and tell people about it.”

So I came back to Las Vegas and started telling everybody I could about it and writing about it wherever I could. But I was really unhappy here. So I messaged (Elephant Nature Park founder Sangduen “Lek” Chailert) and said, “I think I’m going to move to Chiang Mai. I really want to help you. I don’t care if I’m scooping poop or cutting bananas or watermelon for the elephants. I just want to come and help you.” And she wrote me back and said, “I really like your writing. Why don’t you come here and do PR and social media and work for me?”

Were you vegan at the time?

I wasn’t even vegetarian. I ate steak and cheese. But then I moved to Thailand in July 2012, and my first week there I was driving back from the sanctuary in a van, and I looked out the window and there was a truck full of pigs being taken to slaughter. I don’t know why that’s the time it clicked. But all of a sudden I was like, “Nope, I’m done.” That was July 2012, and I haven’t had meat since.

I didn’t do vegan for another three years. I wish I had. All my friends around me were vegan. I worked in animal rights, but you need that click and I never had it. I just always made excuses like I love pizza, I could never give up cheese, I could never give up eggs. It took me until I moved back to the States after four years abroad (to go vegan).

How did that happen?

I was with a friend of mine in Spain who was vegan, and she said, “You should go vegan.” I didn’t think there were a lot of vegan restaurants in Vegas. So she said, “Diana, what do you want to do when you get back to Vegas? Go vegan and write about it.”

When you started Vegans, Baby, was anyone else covering that scene locally?

There were one or two websites that had information, but it wasn’t up to date, so I was kind of surprised. But it was a blessing, because then I got to do it.

How was it received?

I had my launch party here in May 2016 and 30 or 40 people showed up. I started cultivating a community. I started the social media handles, I started going out to eat every day, and it grew over the past two years. I did an event in April 2017 at Urban Turban, and 150 people showed up. And it was so rapid after that. When I spoke in Miami (recently), a girl said, “Oh, my God, I follow you!”

You reach out to chefs who serve meat to create allies. Is that the norm in the vegan world, and how do people react to that?

What I learned when I was with Lek is that you can make a lot more change by being kind and compassionate than by being nasty and aggressive. So I have always gone after change by her model, where you just have a conversation with somebody. You don’t attack them for their viewpoints. You don’t tell them what they’re doing is wrong. And you don’t show them horrible videos. I’ve seen the videos, but that’s not what made me go vegan. What made me go vegan was realizing that it was fun and I could eat well.

There are a lot of different ways people approach veganism. I go at it from the idea that in order to make change, people have to want to talk to you and listen to you. People aren’t going to listen to you if you’re just talking at them. So my approach has been to reach out and just have a conversation.

I’d set aside some money for me and my parents and brother, then donate the rest to animal rescue organizations like Goats of Anarchy. If you haven’t seen their Instagram, check it out; you’ll fall in love with the special needs goats.

— Favorite article of clothing?

I just purchased this ridiculous denim trench coat at a vintage shop in Toronto and I can’t get enough of it. It’s like wearing a Snuggie.

— Most recent music download?

I’ve been a longtime lover of Imagine Dragons, so as soon as their new album dropped I downloaded it. “Digital” is currently on repeat in my car.

— Pets?

I’ve got two cats I rescued in Thailand. I promised myself that I’d make sure they had their best chance at life (one of them was dying when I rescued him), so they’ve traversed the world with me, moving from Thailand to Madrid and, finally, Vegas.

— Places you always take visitors?

I love street art, so whenever people come to visit I always take them downtown to see how vibrant it is. We go there and then hit up VegeNation after.

— Favorite sport?

Hockey. Little known fact about me: I started my writing career in sports journalism covering hockey in the late ’90s.

— Most notable recent achievement?

In early November, I traveled to Miami to speak at the Seed Summit, a part of the Seed Food and Wine Festival. It’s been a dream of mine to participate in this summit that engages vegan and conscious entrepreneurs, bloggers and more, to be a part of it and speak on a panel with some incredible people about how to make change with positive messaging. It was truly an honor.

Red Plate on the Las Vegas Strip serves a cocktail made with blooming jasmine tea

Red Plate on the Las Vegas Strip serves a cocktail made with jasmine tea

Benny the Ice Skating Dog

Benny is a Las Vegas Labrador who was rescued by former pro skater Cheryl Del Sanyo, and trained to ice skate. (Mat Luschek/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

The Nevada State Museum

The Nevada State Museum of Las Vegas, located at the Springs Preserve, covers all eras of the state, from prehistoric to today.

Throw a better dinner party

Cash appears at Baseball Winter Meetings

Lights FC mascot Cash plays the electronic drums at the EZ Inflatables’ booth on Tuesday at the Baseball Winter Meetings trade show at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino.

5 albums to soundtrack your holiday gatherings in style

1. Various Artists, “Holidays Rule," with Rufus Wainwright, The Shins, Calexico and more.
2. Various Artists, “We Wish You a Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year," with Lemmy Kilmister, Alice Cooper, Chuck Billy and others.
3. Various Artists, “Christmas on Death Row," featuring Snoop Dogg and Nate Dogg to name but a few.
4. Bright Eyes, “A Christmas Album.”
5. Various Artists, "The Motown Christmas Album." (Jason Bracelin/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Inside the kitchen at Springs Preserve

The staff of Divine Events do party preparation in the kitchen at Divine Cafe at Springs Preserve. With nine parties the following day, this is a particularly busy time for the crew. (Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

WinterFest

WinterFest in Henderson.

Miss Rodeo America Fashion Show

The 28 women contestants of Miss Rodeo America compete in a fashion show at the Tropicana on Dec. 7, 2018.

Tournament Of Kings Holiday Show

Wizards and warriors are ready for the holidays at Excalibur's Tournament of Kings Holiday Dinner Show.

Take a dive with the Silverton mermaids

A visit to the Silverton Casino Hotel is not complete without taking in the popular, and very unique, mermaid show.

Cowboys and western aficionados can buy virtually anything at Cowboy Christmas

Vegas Golden Knights Christmas Display

In the Las Vegas Valley, the chances of getting a white Christmas are slim. But this year, you can have a “Knight” Christmas. A Henderson resident has a Christmas lights display that is synchronized to the entrance music for the Golden Knights. GG Misa’s Knights light show is played every 30 minutes from 5 to 10 nightly. His light show consists of two songs: Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” and the entrance music, “Le Castle Vania,” from the movie “John Wick.” The display is located at 730 Bollons Island St. (Richard Brian/Las Vegas Reivew-Journal)

Holiday Hooch At El Cortez is Just in Time For Repeal Day And Christmas

Holiday Hooch At El Cortez Is Just In Time For Repeal Day And Christmas. Janna Karel/Las Vegas Review-Journal

TV's LGBT superheroes

Green Valley Ranch's Winter's Village

The Mob Museum

Best Friend Menu Reveal Wednesday

Chef Roy Choi tells us what to expect from Wednesday’s Facebook Live Menu Reveal for his new Park MGM restaurant Best Friend. (Al Mancini/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Quick Chat With Criss Angel

James D. Gish and Susan Anton rehearse

Susan Anton will be special guest at James D. Gish’s holiday concerts Dec. 7 at Summerlin Library and Dec. 9 at Clark County Library. (John Przybys/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Las Vegas Natural History Museum, which opened in 1991, has exhibits of mechanical dinosaurs and taxidermied animals, along with live snakes, fish and sharks. (Mat Luschek/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Magical Forest Lights

Cirque Du Soleil Performers Team Up For New Show "Kinekt"

Through dance, acrobatics and aerial arts, “Kinekt” tells a story all too familiar to modern families: how to maintain a human connection in the digital age. (Janna Karel Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Life

Rev. Father Seraphim Ramos talks about Greek Orthodox icons during an interview with the LVRJ

Rev. Father Seraphim Ramos talks about Greek Orthodox icons during an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal at St. John the Baptist Greek Orthodox Church. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal @bizutesfaye

Holiday poultry with Tim and Chemaine Jensen of Village Meat & Wine

Tim and Chemaine Jensen of Village Meat & Wine explain the different types of poultry available for the holidays. (Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Catholic Charities hosts early Christmas meal

Students from the Bishop Gorman High School football and cheerleader team helped to serve food at the Christmas meal sponsored by the Frank and Victoria Fertitta Foundation at Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada on Sunday. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Incarcerated Christmas

This is the fourth year HOPE for Prisoners has worked with the Nevada Department of Corrections to create a Christmas for prisoners to visit their families. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

2018 Homeless Vigil

Straight From The Streets holds its 23rd annual vigil to remember the 179 homeless individuals who died in Clark County this year.

Operation Homefront Holiday Meals for Military program gave meal kits to 200 families at Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10047 in Las Vegas Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2018. It all started with a chance encounter in a supermarket in Utica, N.Y., near Fort Drum. A soldier, his wife and infant had a handful of grocery items they couldn't afford. A Beam Suntory employee picked up the $12 cost for the groceries. The program has grown from providing 500 meal kits to military families in 2009 to providing more than 7,000 nationally this holiday season.K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto

An elegant Tea Party for substance abuse and homeless women

An elegant Tea Party for substance abuse and homeless women at WestCare Women Children Campus in Las Vegas. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal @bizutesfaye

Former 51s manager Wally Backman chats about new job

Former Las Vegas 51s manager Wally Backman talks about his new job with the independent league Long Island Ducks during the Baseball Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Dec. 10, 2018. (Ron Kantowski/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Inside the kitchen at Springs Preserve

The staff of Divine Events do party preparation in the kitchen at Divine Cafe at Springs Preserve. With nine parties the following day, this is a particularly busy time for the crew. (Heidi Knapp Rinella/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

U.S. Army Corps Edward Hall, a 95-year-old survivor of Pearl Harbor talks about his memories of that horrific day. Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal @bizutesfaye

Roy Choi on cooking for Park MGM employees

As he prepares to open his new restaurant Best Friend later this month at Park MGM, celebrity chef Roy Choi took the time to cook for the resort’s employees Tuesday. (Al Mancini/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Best Friend Menu Reveal Wednesday

Chef Roy Choi tells us what to expect from Wednesday’s Facebook Live Menu Reveal for his new Park MGM restaurant Best Friend. (Al Mancini/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

Las Vegas Great Santa Run

People participated in the 14th annual Las Vegas Great Santa Run which raises cubs for Opportunity Village.

World Holidays Exhibit At The Natural History Museum

Migratory Bird Day teaches adults and kids to celebrate birds

Different organizations offered activities for kids and adults to learn about birds and celebrate their migration journey at Sunset Park. (Rachel Aston/Las Vegas Review-Journal)

"Jackson: The Red Rock Canyon Burro" is a children's book about Red Rock Canyon

Behind the scenes with local celebrity photographer Jerry Metellus as he talks about his Dance For Vegas coffee book dedicated to the 58 victims of the October 1 shooting. (Marcus Villagran/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @marcusvillagran